Morocco Bids to Host 2010 World Cup

Morocco will offer to host the 2010 World Cup soccer finals, marking the North African country’s fourth such bid.

Morocco will offer to host the 2010 World Cup soccer finals, marking the North African country’s fourth such bid.

A statement by the Royal Palace, carried by the official Maghrebe Arab Presse (MAP), said the decision was taken by King Mohammed at a meeting on Monday attended by Youth and Sports Minister Ahmed Moussaoui and top sports officials.

Morocco made bids to host the World Cup finals in 1994, 1998 and 2006, but the tournaments were awarded by soccer's world governing body FIFA to the United States, France and Germany.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said last month Africa would "definitely" host the 2010 World Cup.

South Africa, narrowly and controversially beaten by Germany in the vote for the 2006 tournament, confirmed in March that it would mount its second bid for the finals, said Reuters.

Egypt, Nigeria and Tunisia have also expressed an interest in hosting the tournament in nine years' time, the agency added.

The Moroccan king appointed “Driss Benhima, vice-chairman of the national committee, to be in charge of the Moroccan bid for the World Cup," it said.

The King also instructed the concerned authorities to ensure the construction of the necessary infrastructure to back up the bid, said the statement -- Albawaba.com